Tag: KSA

King Sunny Ade is still enjoing the acolades and praises he has been getting from friends and fans since he became the first Nigerian artiste to be inducted into the Hard Rock Cafe earlier in the week.

As he donated his fender guitar to the cafe, with an emotion-laden voice, KSA said he had to talk to his ‘ baby’ (guitar) before he eventually decided to give it out.

“I was told that I would need to donate something I really love. This guitar is a part of my success story. I had wanted to give out another guitar but I was told it would have to be something special to me. So I asked my ‘baby’ if it wouldn’t mind being donated to the hall of fame. I told it that I would want it to be my ambassador to the world. That was how I reluctantly donated the guitar to Hard Rock,” he said.

The ‘baby’, Saturday Beats gathered, was bought for one pound nine shillings so many years ago. It was also the guitar the legend used for his award winning track, ‘Syncro System,’ that also earned him a Grammy nomination.

Now,the legend has joined other international artistes including Elvis Presley, The Beatles and The Temptations whose memorabilia are displayed in the hall of fame.

KSA, who clocked 70 recently, is still basking in celebration mood. He said the grand finale of his KSA @ 70 celebrations would be a concert staged in his honour and tagged ‘Sunny on Sunday,’ which would hold in Lagos this weekend.

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It is a great day in the life of juju maestro, King Sunny Ade, as he clocks 70 today.

While many of the fans of the master guitarist, great composer and swift dancer are in a joyous mood, several stakeholders are reflecting on his journey in music.

Despite some challenges that came his way in the course of his career that spans about five decades, KSA is one of the musicians that laid the foundation for the boom that the Nigerian music industry is currently experiencing.

The Osemawe of Ondo – the artiste’s hometown – Oba Adesimbo Kiladejo, described KSA as a music icon.

He noted, in a statement, that Sunny Ade’s impact transcended music as evident in the recent establishment of a radio station by the musician.

Oba Kiladejo, who is also the chairman, Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, commended KSA for locating the outfit in the town.

According to him, it will enhance the rising profile of the city, in terms of effective communication, entertainment and enlightenment.

The monarch added that Adegeye’s decision to associate with his root, in spite of his music’s wide acceptance across the globe, underscored his uncommon humility, which, the monarch added, was worthy of emulation by other privileged indigenes of Ondo Kingdom.

The Osemawe said, “We are proud of you as a worthy and illustrious son, a great achiever, an international music icon, a well decorated patriot and legendary figure who has consistently used his God-given talent to entertain, educate and consciously promote African culture.”

Another juju icon, Chief Ebenezer Obey, noted in an interview that the feat that he and KSA had recorded was God-ordained.

He said that their impact had lasted because they were created to be sources of joy to people.

Popular film-maker, Tunde Kelani, corroborated this view, saying that KSA and Obey had distinguished themselves as artistes who had positively influenced society.

Kelani told our correspondent that they had been great ambassadors of the country and so deserved to be celebrated.

“That is why KSA has been able to remain on the scene even at 70. He has also delved into acting and he enriches creativity each time he does. Like the late IK Dairo, KSA and Obey have immortalised the Yoruba heritage and the African experience in general.”

… Mega 99 releases video for him

Meanwhile, Lagos-based musician, Abel Dosumu, popularly called Mega 99, has released the video of a song he produced in the honour of King Sunny Ade.

Although Mega 99 specialises in ‘gospel-juju’, being a mixture of gospel and juju songs, the video titled Tribute to KSA at 70 is pure juju, and exudes accolades, elaborate dance and laughter.

It is one of the tracks in the artiste’s latest album, titled Mega Superstar.

In the tradition of eulogy, Tribute to KSA @ 70 celebrates Sunny Ade’s Ondo heritage, while Mega 99 also seeks to showcase the acumen that KSA displays on the guitar.

He told our correspondent on Wednesday that the video directed by Oyeyemi Akinsola consumed time, but was worth doing based on the status of the celebrator.

Mega 99 said, “KSA has been a positive influence to many of us. He, alongside Obey and other elders in the trade, inspired us and they have continued to do so. Each time we want to relax for one reason or the other, we remember that, even at 70, KSA is still very active on the beat. So, we get energised and do what we know how to do best.”

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President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated music legend, King Sunny Ade, on his 70th birthday, which is on September 22.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari hailed the multi-talented instrumentalist, songwriter and dancer for his remarkable life.

The President noted that Sunny Ade had won numerous awards for his outstanding performances, and received many nominations for awards, including the Grammy.

“As a Nigerian musician, the President believes the Septuagenarian has over the years brought pride to his country by mastering his art against all odds, taking the African musical genre to the global stage, and serving as an inspiration and a mentor to upcoming artistes,” the statement read in part.

“Apart from bringing joy to many hearts and homes through his music, President Buhari also commends King Sunny Ade’s love for humanity, especially the less privileged, by setting up a foundation that caters for the needs of others.”

He prayed that the almighty God would grant the entertainer longer life, good health and more strength.

Born on September 22, 1946 in Osogbo, Sunday Adeniyi, who is popularly called the minister of enjoyment, had been actively in music since 1960s.

As part of the activities to mark the 70th birthday ceremony of the king of world beats, King Sunny Ade, A-list gospel artistes in the country have set the stage to celebrate with him in a two-day mega concert.

The event which will be held at Civic Centre, Ondo, will have the current President of the Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria, Funmi Aragbaye, Evangelist Bola Are, Dunni Olanrewaju, aka Opelope Anointing, Tope Alabi, Bisi Alawiye Aluko, Akin Adebayo, Esther Igbekele, Dare Melody, and others performing on the first day of the event.

The initiator of the event, Dunni Olanrewaju, further said that Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi will be the father of the day.

Olanrewaju said the idea of celebrating King Sunny Ade hit her the day he went for an interview in his radio station. “It was a live programme and the need to celebrate him just dropped and I took it up from there immediately. Thanks to God for the responses of great men and women of God to the clarion call, it amazed me how people responded to the call,” he said.

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